Polishing machine



Dec; 5, 1950 M. v. TRIGGS 2,532,581

POLISHING MACHINE Filed Jan, 23, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOQ/YEK Dec. 5, 1950 y M. v. TRIGGs 2,532,581

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TTOQ/YEK Dec. 5, 1950 M. v. TRlGGs 2,532,581

POLISHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTOQ/YEK PatentedA Dec. 5, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POLISHING MACHINE Melvin V. Triggs, Alhambra, Calif.

Application January 23, 1948, Serial No. 3,860

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to polishing machines, and has for an object the provision of a machine adapted to polish instrumentalities such as soap dishes which generally have a border ilange and a semi-cylindrical shaped Soap receiving portion. A semi-cylindrical surface is difficult to polish evenly, and the present invention has its parts so arranged that the entire surface of the soap receiving portion is contacted and polished.

A further object is the provision of a polishing machine which may be manipulated to perform a polishing operation with great rapidity and without fatiguing the operator.

A further object is the provision of a polishing machine so constituted as to handle a large number of devices to be polished.

A further object is the provision of a polishing machine for polishing intricately shaped articles, and which machine is at all times under the direct control of the operator.

A further object is the provision of a polishing machine of simplified design, affords ease of 010- eration, and is generally superior to polishing machines now known to the inventor.

With the above mentioned and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in one embodiment ,v

in the accompanying drawings, described general-J ly, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the polishing machine,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, certain parts of the machine being in a changed position from that of Figure 4, and,

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring now with particularity to the drawings, the present polishing machine is adapted to perform a polishing operation upon soap dishes of various sizes as, for instance, illustrated in Figure 2, at l, and which dishes have an edge or border flange 2 and a concavity 3, the concavity being semi-cylindrical in form, the curve`extendy.standard by an annular plate 2 ing between two opposite and parallel flanges 4 and 5, while end Walls 6 and l close the sides of the concavity, the end walls merging with the parallel anges 8 and 9.

After a dish of the character shown at l has been plated, it must be polished. Generally, this polishing is ahand operation, and polishers of different forms may be used. Unless the polishing is well done, there will be areas in the concavity which are semi-polished or left unpolished. This detracts from the appearance of' the dish and may affect its salability. With the polishing machine of the present invention, dishes like that described, having intricate surface coniiguration,

. may be readily polished, the polishing being substantially the same throughout the dish.

The machine for accomplishing the polishing includes a turntable it which is so formed as to hold a large number of dishes. This turntable in the present instance has a circular outline, and is provided with a base il, a curved side wall i2, and a top i3. The base and t-he curved side wall are welded or otherwise secured together in liquid-tight relationship. The top wall may be'welded or otherwise secured to the sid-e wall, and said top wall is provided with a pluralty of work-receiving openings lli. The work receiving openings will vary in size, in accordance with the work, as illustrated in Figure 2, wherein certain of the openings are larger than others thereof. Furthermore, the outline ofthe openings will vary, as is self-evident. Secured to the side wall IB are a plurality of radially extending handles i5 which the operator may f grasp when he desires to rotate the turntable.

The turntable mounting consists of a central hub le having end flanges which engage the top and bottom walls of the turntable. Said turntable is held in adjusted positions upon the sleeve il, which sleeve extends through the hub, said sleeve carrying an adjustable collar ld which bears against the lower iiange of the hub. The sleeve is mounted upon a standard iz?. This standard has a cylindrical side wall 26, a top wall 2i, the top wall being secured to one end of the sleeve by welding or otherwise, and the tcp wall is centrally bored at 22.

Passed through the sleeve is an elongated tube 23, which tube is passed through the bore 22 in lthe standard and is braced within the standard by means of a bushing 2i held centrally of the .A iitting 2?: is secured to the lower end ci' the tube 23. A foot operated lever 2l is pivoted at 28 to a support 2S carried on a base 3G for the standard,

into contact with the surface of the bowl to be polished. By cupping the felt discs, as illustrated in Figure 6, damage to the bowl is prevented because only the felt disc contacts the bowl. No metal portions which support the felt discs are brought into contact with the bowl. It is evident that after adjusting the `two members 5l and 62 of the arm that lowering of the tube 23 will position the polishing discs within the bowl so that the contact may be light or heavy, as desired. The operator may swing the turntable, which is to say, revolve it about the sleeve Il, at the same time swinging the arm 30 to bring the polishing discs into Contact within the bowl, in the manner illustrated in Figures l and 5. Such movement is chordal to the turntable. As polishing of the bowl generates heat, this heat is dissipated by providing a cooling medium, s uch as water or other liquid 9i] within the turntable. Raising and lowering of the platform with the associated motor, bearings, and the arm, is accomplished by depressing the lever 2'! which, it will be noted, is counter-balanced by the weights 33. These weights are sufficient to maintain the tube in its upper position, as illustrated in Figure 3. Slight pressure upon the foot portion of the lever 21 will lower the carriage, with its associated mechanism, so that the polishing discs are brought into contact with the bowl of the work.

Actual practice of the invention has demonstrated that all parts of the bowl in the soap dish illustrated are contacted and that a high polish results. The method of securing the work within the work-receiving openings of the turntable allows for rapid 'insertion of the bowls within the work-receiving openings and likewise equal rapid removal therefrom. Furthermore, when the polishing discs are rapidly rotated, the operator is protected from bits of polishing material striking the operator by means of the guards 80 and 8 l such material striking said plates. i

It is, of course, evident that the motor 5I may be energized from a source of electric current, with the usual switches provided in the circuit.

I claim:

1. In a polishing machine, a standard, a sleeve carried by the standard, an elongated tube passed through said sleeve with one end thereof received within the standard, a lever provided with a counter-balance weight secured to the lower end of said elongated tube, a, turntable provided with work-receiving openings rotatably positioned on the sleeve, a platform carried by the upper end of said elongated tube, a dirigible carriage for movement on the platform, an electrical motor and its shaft supported on the dirigible carriage, a polishing wheel, means between said motor shaft and said wheel for rotating the polishing wheel when the motor is energized, and a swing support carried by the motor shaft for the polishing wheel, movement cf the counter-balanced lever raising or lowering the platform to control the position of the polishing wheel relative to the work-receiving opening of the turntable.

2. In polishing machine construction, a cylin drical standard, a bearing sleeve axially carried by said standard, an elongated tube passed through the bearing sleeve with one end thereof conned within the standard, means keying the elongated tube against rotation, a turntable rotatably secured on said sleeve, a motor supported on the upper end of said elongated tube, means for shifting the position of the motor in two directions, a polishing wheel, means between the motor and the said wheel for rotating the wheel, and means for mounting the polishing wheel for swinging movement relative to the turntable.

3. A polishing machine, including a turntable formed with openings for receiving work, a polishing wheel positioned above the turntable openings for receiving work, a dirigible carriage, means for mounting the carriage above said turntable and for diametric movement relative to said turntable; an electrical motor and its shaft supported on the dirigible carriage, means between the motor shaft and Said polishing wheel for rotating same when the moto-r is energized, and a freely movable swing support carried by the motor shaft for the polishing wheel.

MELVIN V. TRIGGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '749,551 Gochring et al. Jan. 121, 1904 998,508 Hattersley et a1. July 18, 1911 1,325,789 Johnsson Dec. 23, 1919 1,905,651 Raule Apr. 25, 1933 2,166,461 Carlson July 18, 1939 

